NaPoWriMo 2017 - Prompt #10 - The Mundane

The mundane spoon.
Where can this concept lead?

Consider the spoon.  It is a simple, everyday object.  It does not seem to have much about it that one might consider poetic.  But there are many different ways to consider the humble spoon ... how about 'spooning' as sleeping next to someone, a souvenir spoon collection,  a spoon used as a percussion instrument, or 'spoon feeding' someone information?  And of course there are strange crossovers like the 'spork.'

There is a paradox in poetry - the more specific and concrete the language and imagery, the more universal and accessible the poem becomes.  A poem that is more general and less specific is less relatable.  Therefore, writing about the mundane creates pathways for the reader to enter and engage with the poem.   

Here are a few other thoughts about the spoon ...

"I was born with a plastic spoon." - Pete Townshend
"Gag me with a spoon." - Valley talk, attributed to Moon Unit Zappa among many others ...
"Ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife." - Not an example of irony, by Alanis Morisette
"Spoon!" - Battle cry of comic hero The Tick.

Prompt #10:  Write a poem about a spoon (or other specific, concrete, mundane object).  Consider some of the ideas above about the spoon, and others like taking medicine, measuring ingredients, or stirring tea.  Consider what it is made out of, what it holds (or once held) and if it still matches the set.  Craft your poem to be as specific as possible about your mundane object.

To make the prompt more detailed, you can write a sonnet about your mundane object, and put a little surprise about it in your final couplet.

Of course I'll be wondering what mundane aspect of sci-fi, horror, or fantasy I need to consider.

Did you use this or one of our other prompts?  You can post your poem in our comments, if you like.

Happy Writing!

Prompts crafted by:
J.A. Grier, Senior Scientist and Education Specialist, Planetary Science Institute
Amy Grier, Managing Editor, Solstice Literary Magazine
Image Credits: Dessert Spoon CC 3.0 Wikimedia Commons